1CL501-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Unit-3 Sustainability and Environmental Impact Assessment

Content

➢ Conceptual tools for Sustainability

➢ Introduction to sustainable development goals
➢ Case studies of sustainable designs/products/material/projects
➢ Overview of environmental management systems
➢ Introduction to green technologies
➢ Environmental impact assessment
➢ Carbon credit and carbon footprint
Educational framework for sustainable transformation
A conceptual tool for Teaching Environmental Sustainability
Examples of Sustainability Tools

• Risk assessment
• Life-cycle assessment
• Cost-Benefit analysis
• Ecosystem-services valuation
• Circular Economy
Risk Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment
Cost Benefit Analysis
 Ecosystem-services valuation
Ecosystem valuation is an economic process which assigns a value (either monetary,
biophysical, or other) to an ecosystem and/or its ecosystem services
 Circular Economy

✓ Less raw material

✓ Less waste
✓ Fewer emissions
 Introduction to sustainable development goals

• The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a universal plan for all
countries to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.
• They are a set of 17 goals which include 169 targets.
• Initiated by Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
• The 2012 Rio+ Summit led to the creation of a UN Open Working Group on
Sustainable Development Goals, established in January 2013.
• The group involved members from 70 countries and published its final draft
in July 2014.
Sustainable development goals
Identify the 12 goal which align
with the scope of Environment

• This showcases the importance of

the environmental related topics
for achieving Sustainable
Development.

• The aim of 12 SDGs related to the

environment will be discusses in
the upcoming slides in detail.
Sustainable
Development
Goal 1
Sustainable
Development
Goal 2
Sustainable
Development
Goal 3
Sustainable
Development
Goal 4
Sustainable
Development
Goal 5
Sustainable
Development
Goal 7
Sustainable
Development
Goal 9
Sustainable
Development
Goal 11
Sustainable
Development
Goal 12
Sustainable
Development
Goal 13
Sustainable
Development
Goal 14
Sustainable
Development
Goal 15
 Case study of sustainable projects:

Sustainable Construction
• Sustainable construction is the practice of creating a healthy environment
that’s based on ecological principles.
• Sustainable construction focuses on six principles:
✓ Conserve
✓ Reuse
✓ Recycle/renew
✓ Protect nature
✓ Create nontoxic
✓ High quality
Benefits of Sustainable Construction
Benefits of Sustainable Construction
Benefits of Sustainable Construction
Benefits of Sustainable Construction
 Challenges of Sustainable Construction

➢ Switching to a more sustainable process takes time and preparation to utilize

the best practices.
➢ Training needs to be implemented in order to start practicing sustainable
methods which takes time and money.
➢ Another obstacle that many companies may come across is the actual
principal cost of sustainable construction. The general consensus is that
sustainable construction comes at a premium, with a higher cost than
demand.
Importance of Sustainable Construction
 Environmental management systems (EMS)

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of processes and

practices that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and
increase its operating efficiency.

For example:
• Control and prevent pollution, such as effluents getting into a river course
• Or the implementation of a biodiversity programme to ensure that the flora
and fauna of an area is enhanced once a project has been completed.
Elements of Environmental management systems
 ISO14001:2015

The standard is published by the International Organization for Standardization

(ISO), an international body that creates and distributes standards that are
accepted worldwide.
It provides a solid framework for implementing an environmental management
system, rather than establishing environmental performance requirements.
Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) Methodology
 Benefits of Implementing an Environmental
Management System
➢ Environmental Performance and Compliance: help an organization take the
necessary steps to control environmental risks and strive for continual
improvement.
➢ Improves Business Reputation: By receiving certification from the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), your key stakeholders will know that you
are accredited to a high level.
➢ Reduction of Operational Costs: An EMS assesses how your organization uses
resources and identifies ways to reduce elements like waste, ensuring more
efficient use of resources.
➢ Enhanced Employee Morale: Employees are increasingly looking for
organizations to deliver on sustainability commitments, which can often be a
deciding factor for potential employees choosing an organization to work for.
Green Technology
 Green Technology

▪ Green Technology is the application of the environmental science to conserve

the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of
human involvement.
▪ The field of "green technology" encompasses a continuously evolving group
of methods and materials, from techniques for generating energy to non-toxic
cleaning products.
 Green Technology

▪ "Green Technology" is a system that uses innovative methods to create an

environmental friendly products
▪ It uses renewable natural resources that never depletes, so future generation
can also benefit from it.
▪ It can effectively change waste pattern and production in a way that it won't
harm the planet.
Green Technologies to make your home better
Needs of Green Technology
Goals of green technology
Green Technology - examples
Green Technology - Examples
Branches of Green Technology

▪ Green chemistry
▪ Green energy
▪ Green IT
▪ Green building
▪ Green nanotechnology
Green Chemistry

▪ The term green chemistry was coined by Paul Anastas in 1991

▪ Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry.

▪ The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to reduce or to eliminate
the use of hazardous substances.
Principles of Green Chemistry

▪ Prevent waste.
▪ Less hazardous chemical synthesis.
▪ Safer chemicals and products.
▪ Safer solvents and reaction conditions.
▪ Increase energy efficiency.
Green Energy

▪ Green energy comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants, algae
and geothermal heat.
▪ These energy resources are renewable.
Green Energy - Types

▪ Solar power
▪ Wind power
▪ Water power
▪ Geothermal energy
▪ Biofuel
▪ Biogas
 Green Information Technology

▪ Also called green computing it describes the study and the using of computer resources in an
efficient way.
▪ Green IT starts with manufacturers producing environmental friendly products and encouraging IT
apartments to consider more friendly options like virtualization.
▪ Power management and proper recycling habits.
 Green Building

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings through better design,

sustainable construction practices, ease in operation and maintenance.

It enhances the energy efficiency of the building.

Reduction in building impacts on human health and environment.
Materials used in Green Building

▪ Less volatile organic compounds paints.

▪ Bamboo flooring.
▪ Woven wool for carpeting.
▪ Ecological concrete. (special admixture, dicalcium silicate: 2Ca0.Si02,
instead of cement).
▪ Paper insulation panels.
 Green Nano Technology

▪ Green nanotechnology refers to the use of nanotechnology to enhance the environmental

sustainability of processes producing negative externalities. It also refers to the use of the
products of nanotechnology to enhance sustainability.
▪ Ex: One major project that is being worked on is the development of nanotechnology in solar
cells. Solar cells are more efficient as they get tinier and Nanotechnology is already used to
provide improved performance coatings for photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal panels.
▪ PV covered with nanotechnology coatings are said to stay cleaner for longer to ensure maximum
energy efficiency is maintained.
Environmental Impact Assessment
What is EIA??
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an
assessment of the possible positive or negative
impact that a proposed project may have on the
environment, considering Natural, Social
and Economic aspects.
OR
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is defined
as ‘a tool used to identify the environmental, social and
economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making.
What is EIA??

It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design,
find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local
environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers’.

In India it has become mandatory for all the chemical industries and other infrastructure
projects to seek environmental clearance from the state authority (GPCB) or central
government (CPCB) before putting up any project.

EIA studies the impact of proposed project on the surrounding environment, which includes:
▪ Inhabitation
▪ Flora & Fauna
▪ Natural Resources/ Reservoirs
▪ Overall safety of the project and public properties.
 The Process of EIA

Essentially EIA is a systematic process that examines the

environmental consequences of development actions, in advance.
The EIA consists of eight steps with each step equally important in
determining the overall performance of the project.
1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Impact analysis
4. Mitigation
5. Reporting
6. Review of EIA
7. Decision Making
8. Monitoring, compliance, enforcement & environmental auditing
Generalized Process
Flowsheet of EIA
 The Process of EIA

1. Screening: First stage of EIA, which determines whether the proposed project requires an
EIA or not and if it does, then the level of assessment required.

2. Scoping: It is the process of determining which are the most critical issues to study and will
involve community participation to some degree. It is at this early stage that EIA can most
strongly influence the outline proposal. This stage also defines the boundary and time limit of
the study.

3. Impact analysis: It is the stage of EIA which identifies and predicts the likely environmental
and social impact of the proposed project and evaluates the significance.

4. Mitigation: This step in EIA recommends the actions to reduce and avoid the potential
adverse environmental consequences of development activities.

5. Reporting: This stage presents the result of EIA in a form of a report to the decision-
making body and other interested parties.
 The Process of EIA

6. Review of EIA: It examines the adequacy and effectiveness of the EIA report and
provides the information necessary for decision-making.
7. Decision-making: It decides whether the project is rejected, approved or needs further
change.
8. Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental auditing: This stage comes
into play once the project is commissioned. It checks to ensure that the impacts of the
project do not exceed the legal standards and implementation of the mitigation measures
are in compliance with those described in the EIA report.
 Methods to Carry out EIA

1. Ad hoc approach
2. Impact checklist method
3. Matrix method
4. Network approach
5. Modelling approaches
6. Battelle environmental evaluation system (BEES)
7. Computer aided EIA
 EIA as a Project Management Tool (Objectives)
1. Identify, anticipate and prevent environmental impacts (problems)
2. Examine the significance of environmental implications
3. Assess whether impacts can be mitigated and identify ways to increase environmental
benefits
4. Recommend preventive and corrective mitigating measures
5. Inform decision makers and concerned parties about the environmental implications
6. Advise whether development should go ahead
7. Integrate environmental considerations into the planning, design and construction of
projects at all scales.
Content of an EIA Report

1. Project Setting: a description of project proposed, compromising

information about the site and the design, size and scale of the
project
2. Description of the proposed project: Brief idea of the process
sequence
3. Description of existing environment
4. Detailed analysis and evaluation of each impact
5. Reasonable alternatives
6. Suggestions for monitoring and control
7. Summary
 Surveys and Analysis in EIA

• Meteorology and air quality

• Hydrology and water quality
• Site and its surroundings
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Details of the treatment and disposal of effluents and the
methods of alternative uses
• Transportation of raw material and details of material
handling
• Control equipment and measures proposed to be adopted
 Benefits of EIA

• Environmental benefits
• Economic Benefits
• Reduced cost and time of project implementation and design
• Avoided treatment
• Clean-up costs
• Impacts of law and regulations
 Carbon Footprint
&
Carbon Credits/Carbon Trading
CARBON CREDITS AND TRADING
This presentation covers:

1. What is Carbon Footprint?

2. What is carbon credit?
3. Working of European Union System.
4. Can carbon markets be part of the answer in controlling
climate change?
5. What is the basic economics of carbon trading?
6. What are the alternatives / complements?
Carbon Footprint
What is Carbon Footprint?
▪ A carbon footprint is historically defined as the total
emissions caused by an individual, event, organisation, or
product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Credit

Carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or

permit representing the right to emit one tonne
of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas
with a carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) to one tonne
of carbon dioxide.
What is Carbon Credit?
 The EU-Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

▪ EU ETS is a market-based mechanism to incentivize reduction

of greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective and
economically-efficient manner.
▪ Similar system trialed in the USA - US acid rain program
employed a sulfur emissions cap and trade system and
successfully produced a 50 percent cut in emissions
▪ The scheme operates through the allocation and trade of CO2
emissions allowances
▪ One allowance represents one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.
▪ Long term goal - de-carbonization of EU economy
▪ Carbon trading scheme began in January 2005
Carbon Emissions Trading
Pressure to reduce CO2 emissions

The USA has the highest per capita emissions of carbon

but China and India and other Asian countries have huge
populations – putting increased pressure on carbon
emissions
 EU Targets: 20-20-20

Energy
Green House Gas Renewable Energy
Consumption
Target Target
Target
• 20% cut in • 20% increase in • 20% cut in energy
greenhouse gas use of renewable consumption
emissions by energy by 2020 through improved
2020, compared energy efficiency
with 1990 levels by 2020
 Carbon Trading – Assets and Liabilities
➢ Businesses in the EU-ETS must implement carbon management
strategies in the medium term
➢ The new carbon market should develop a price that reflects the
cheapest ways of implementing emission cutbacks.
➢ As the market price of carbon emissions rises, so there is an
incentive for businesses to invest in technologies that are more
pollution efficient.
• If a carbon emitting business can under-use its initial
Assets allowance by better energy efficiency, it can sell its
surplus on the market.

• If a business is faced by high costs to reduce its

Liabilities
emissions, it must buy extra allowances
Rewards and incentives?

1. Reward efficiency – e.g. those businesses that are

pollution efficient
2. Reward action – e.g. capital investment in lower-carbon
cleaner factories and production processes
3. Reduce pollution without damaging the competitiveness
of European businesses.
 The Clean Development Mechanism

▪ CDM: allows industrialized

countries to invest in projects
that reduce emissions in
developing countries - as an
alternative to what would
undoubtedly be more
expensive emission reduction
programmes in their own
country.
▪ The CDM scheme has been
criticised – fraudulent use of
it.
 Weaknesses - Fools Gold?
Government failure?
▪ Over-allocation of carbon quotas &
national freedom to allocate
▪ Gave cash windfalls to some businesses

▪ Carbon price collapsed

▪ This has driven up the demand for coal

fired energy! – a dirtier fuel! (law of

unintended consequences)
▪ Uncertainty of future of the scheme

makes it less likely that businesses will

invest in greener technologies – all a
question of incentives!
The fool’s gold of carbon trading
 Recession and carbon prices

▪ EU recession has caused reductions

in output in steel, paper, cement and
glass
▪ Has led to a sell off of carbon credits
▪ That has led to a big drop in the
market value of carbon permits from
Euro 35 to 9
▪ There is less incentive for companies
to stop polluting
▪ Fears for the future of many clean
energy projects
▪ Is there a case for a minimum price
on carbon emissions?
How does carbon Credit Saves the Planet
The EU-India Initiative on Clean Development & Climate Change

Areas of Co operation

➢ Co-operation on clean technology

➢ Clean Development Mechanism
➢ Adapting to climate change and integrating adaptation into sustainable
development strategies.

SCOPE CDSC (clean

BIG (scalable development and
FOWIND
CSP optimised sustainable
(facilitating off- CECI (clean
power plant cities) to integrate
shore wind energy cooperati
engineered with low-carbon
development in on with India) strategies into
biomass
India) urban
integrated
gasification) development
TED TALK ON CARON NEGATIVE COUNTRY
 Is carbon tax a viable alternative?

▪ A carbon tax is a specific tax on the consumption of goods

which cause carbon dioxide emissions.
▪ A system for controlling carbon emissions and other forms
of atmospheric pollution by which an upper limit is set on
the amount a given business or other organization may
produce but which allows further capacity to be bought
from other organizations that have not used their full
allowance.
Case for a carbon tax:
• Cap and trade is like a tax so why not tax instead?
• Mandates a specific price on carbon – less uncertainty than the emissions-trading
price.
 Problems with a carbon tax
▪ What are the chances of agreeing a carbon tax across different
parts of the world?
▪ How much to tax when emissions of carbon are difficult to
measure accurately?
▪ What is the true economic cost of CO2 emissions and impact
on climate change?
▪ Costs of compliance / risk of tax evasion
▪ Possible regressive effects on lower income households
▪ Less certainty about the effect on quantity of emissions.
 Problems with a carbon tax
▪ Countries may free ride on others carbon taxes i.e. enjoy a
reduction in CO2 emissions without imposing their own tax.
▪ Would countries be prepared to raise the carbon tax to reduce
emissions? Low price elasticity of demand?
 Evaluating the alternatives

When evaluating consider some of these points:

1. Which interventions are likely to be most effective?
• In changing behaviour
• In encouraging innovation and investment
• In reducing emissions at lowest cost
2. What are the consequences for equity?
• Between rich and poorer nations
• Between rich and poorer within any one country
• Between current and future generations
• Between producers and consumers
3. What approach offers the best chance of a global programme?
4. Putting a price on carbon is a necessary but insufficient condition
for achieving the required reductions in CO2